Lamborghini’s boss dishes the dirt on the future of electric bulls.
In the last decade or so, the automotive industry has gone through a massive transformation to comply with stringent regulations and changing customer demands. The rise of the SUV and electrification has spelled doom for the once-popular sedan, for example, with brands rushing to bolster their respective ranges with high-riding crossovers.
Even Ferrari hasn’t been able to escape market trends and has responded with the Purosangue, which isn’t a typical SUV but rather a 2+2 GT with some raised ground clearance. Lamborghini is no stranger to the SUV, having pioneered it to a degree with the LM002 and then reentering it decades later with the Urus. Recently, the company’s head of design quietly admitted that the super SUV will head down the electric route, where it will be joined by a battery-powered grand tourer.
We’ve known for some time that an electric GT is in the pipeline, but now, company CEO Stephan Winkelmann has shared more details.
Lamborghini
Lamborghini
Lamborghini
Lamborghini
Speaking to Top Gear, he confirmed the fourth model in the Raging Bull’s lineup should be ready by the end of the decade and will take on the shape of a 2+2 with increased ground clearance, very much like the Ferrari Purosangue, only with electricity powering it instead of a naturally aspirated V12. “It will be a more versatile car, and this will be the first [fully electric car] coming before the Urus is fully electrified,” said the CEO.
Known for designing visually stirring cars, the advent of electric vehicles in Lamborghini’s range will give designers even more creative license. “The positioning of the battery gives you unexpected body styles,” said Winkelmann. “Yes, we have opportunities to be different in terms of body styles, but the cars will always be immediately recognizable as Lamborghinis.”
With the Urus already rocketing the company to record-high sales, the electric GT will only strengthen demand. That’s not Winkelmann’s biggest concern, though. “The financial results are more important than the cars we deliver. The fourth model will [allow us] to grow numbers, but this is not the … most important thing.”
Lamborghini
Lamborghini
Lamborghini
Lamborghini
For now, the next generation of Lamborghini sports cars will utilize a hybrid setup. This, says Winkelmann, will bring about improved performance. “For the two super sports cars we want to stay hybrid for as long as possible, and we want to see how much synthetic fuel can help us to keep this alive after 2030.”
While EVs are massively capable in a straight line, their dynamic prowess is inherently compromised. “We see a lot of longitudinal acceleration, which is very much equal to all the [EVs]. We see differences, but we don’t see, today, something which is good for us … the idea is to have the lateral acceleration coming into this,” he added.
We expect the newcomer to be a beautiful car (in the same vein as the Asterion) but won’t be surprised to see a more conventional shape. After all, the Taycan and RS e-tron GT already exist, both of which utilize the J1 platform. The all-electric Lambo may just share this with its VW Group cousins.
Lamborghini
Lamborghini
Lamborghini
Lamborghini